Recent years have demonstrated the fragility of both military and nonmilitary
supply chains. Through biotechnology and biomanufacturing, the Department of
Defense (DoD) can use readily available feedstocks to onshore manufacturing of
chemicals and materials critical to defense needs and to create advanced
materials with enhanced capabilities. Development of DoD’s biotechnology
and biomanufacturing capabilities will help secure the defense supply chain and
contribute to a force that is sustainable, resilient, survivable, agile, and
responsive.
To accelerate the advancement of biotechnology and biomanufactured products, the
Department launched the Tri-Service Biotechnology for a Resilient Supply Chain
(T-BRSC) program in Fiscal Year 2022. T-BRSC is creating a pipeline for advanced
development and transition of biomanufactured materials to support defense
supply chain resilience. The effort brings together Joint Service partners to
leverage significant advances made over the last decade in using microorganisms
to produce highly specialized bio-based chemicals that can be used to
manufacture a wide variety of materials of interest to DoD.
The T-BRSC project portfolio is focused on enhanced capabilities, reduced
logistics, infrastructure modernization, and cost savings. The program
emphasizes the rapid prototyping of promising biotechnology research through
partnerships with non-traditional commercial performers to facilitate entry of
biomanufactured materials into acquisition Programs of Record and develop the
Biotechnology Defense Industrial Base.